Category Archives: Kids in Missions

Coffey Family December 2024 Prayer Letter

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Our final weeks in South Africa before heading to the States for a few months have been incredibly productive. I’ve been enjoying Bible studies with five faithful men from our church, and we’re celebrating that 10 teenagers trusted Christ during our recent teen camp! 

Church attendance has been steady at around 80 people, but what’s even more encouraging is the growing spiritual maturity among adults of all ages. 

Junior Camp kicks off today, and we’re praying that many of the 9-12-year-olds attending will decide to trust Jesus and follow Him. We’re expecting over 100 kids to start arriving at 3 PM.

We leave this Friday for our furlough in the States, where we’ll be from December 14 to May 8. During this time, we’re excited to meet our new grandchildren and work on raising additional support. If you’d like us to visit your church and share about our ministry, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Next semester, I will be teaching a college class on Discipleship at Vision School of Mission on Tuesday mornings while I’m in the States. Please pray that this class will be a blessing and a help to the students. If you know anyone interested in becoming a missionary, Vision School of Mission is a great place to explore that calling. 
  • We’re excited to see new people attending our church! Some have recently been saved, while others are still exploring their faith and haven’t yet made a profession of faith. Please pray that more people will come to Christ and grow in His Word. We are particularly encouraged to see older men and married couples joining us—something that has been rare in the past. 
  • Please also pray for Noah Haught. He worked with us for a year as an intern at the camp and youth home and is now raising support to return here full-time. Pray for God’s provision and guidance as he prepares for this ministry. 
  • Finally, we deeply appreciate your prayers for our daughter-in-law, Ashley. She is still facing significant health challenges, including blackouts and memory loss. She and our son Chase are seeking answers and hope to return to South Africa in February. Your continued prayers for her healing and their direction mean so much to us. 
  • Please pray for God to raise up more laborers for the harvest in Africa.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Missionary Mike Haley from Botswana was our special speaker for teen camp, and his time with us was a great blessing. We rejoice that 10 teens made professions of faith! 
  • Please pray for God’s provision for our current and future construction projects at Camp Rhino. We’re incredibly thankful for how He has used many of you to make this ministry possible.
  • We are currently seeking sponsors for our campers, and any support would be greatly appreciated! Each camper costs us about $50– $60, but we only ask the teens to pay $5 to make it affordable. We’re aiming for at least 100 sponsors to help cover expenses for over 200 kids.
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Coffey Family October 2024 Prayer Letter

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Please pray for our family and friends here in South Africa.  We suffered a great loss on Sept 21st. The first girl who moved into our youth home and lived here for 4 years was tragically killed at 19 years old.  She was like a daughter to us.  She was saved at our first teen camp at Camp Rhino in 2018.

She left living at the camp about 6 months ago but was at the camp that day working to help with our Soccer and Netball Tournament.  She also met with Amy and me to ask if I would walk her down the aisle at her wedding.  She and Amy made plans to go shopping for her wedding dress the next week.  

When she returned home, not even 2 hours later, she went to the store by her house and a guy robbing the store shot and killed her. 

We had her funeral this Saturday with over 400 people in attendance.  She was a young lady who truly impacted her community and those who knew her.  My daughter Emilee flew back to South Africa to be here during the funeral and to comfort us and her friends during this tremendous loss. 

Please pray for her fiancé, Amine. He is one of the young men here preparing for ministry. Sisipho will be missed, but we will see her again one day.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • We had 15 young people trust Christ during our Soccer and Netball Tournament.
  • 3 more older adults were baptized at Lighthouse Baptist this month.  
  • Our first grandson was born on September 11th.  He is still in the NICU, but he’s doing great.  Amy was able to be there for his birth, but I’m grateful to have her back home.
  • Baphumzi and Phumlani, the twin brothers of Sisipho, who are living at Camp Rhino, were baptized this past Sunday. 
  • Please continue to pray for our daughter-in-law Ashley, who’s experiencing health challenges, including blackouts and memory loss. She and my son Chase are seeking answers and hope to return to South Africa soon.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • We now have the $33,000 to buy a brand new 15-passenger Toyota Van for our Youth Home and Camp. We are so thankful to those who helped meet this need.  
  • $6,000 is still needed to finish the perimeter wall to protect against future floods.  This is a reminder to please pray for those affected by the hurricane and flooding in the States. The pictures we’ve seen have been terrible.  
  • $6000 is still needed to finish the pavilion, snack shop, and gift shop at Camp Rhino. 
  • My trip to Benin was terrific.  I’m encouraged to see how the Lord is using Nate & Emily Wilkerson.  Please pray for more laborers for West Africa. 
  • Amy and I will be coming back to the States at the end of December for a 5-month furlough to present our ministry in churches and to see my new grandson:)  If you would like us to come and present our ministry or know of a church you could recommend us to, please let us know.  We look forward to seeing many of you.
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Coffey Family September 2024 Prayer Letter

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This Sunday, we are excited to have four older adults getting baptized at Lighthouse Baptist Church, with another baptism planned for the following week. 

Two Sundays ago, Lynette Osborn, a dedicated single missionary working with us, presented certificates to eight young ladies who had completed an extensive discipleship course. It’s truly encouraging to witness the spiritual growth in our community over the past few weeks.

In recent months, we’ve been raising funds to purchase a 15-passenger van for our camp and youth home ministry. We’ve received an additional $1,000, bringing us to $17,000. Please pray with us as we work to raise the remaining $14,000. This van will greatly benefit our current group and will be invaluable as we continue to grow. We anticipate welcoming two more children into the youth home soon, but without better transportation, this will be a significant challenge.

We also have a few young men serving in new church plants. We’ve initiated a plan to support them in full-time ministry for 6 to 12 months as they help these young churches grow. If you’re interested in supporting our program to help these young preachers, please let me know.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • Please pray for our upcoming Soccer and Netball Tournament on Sept. 21st at Camp Rhino. We’re expecting over 200 people on campus and praying that many will respond to the Gospel invitation.
  • Also, pray for our son Luke and his wife Adri as they await the arrival of our first grandchild. Little Liam tried to come two months early, but thankfully, the labor stopped, and he’s still growing strong. Their due date is October 23rd, but the doctors think he might arrive any day now.  
  • Please continue to pray for our daughter-in-law Ashley, who’s experiencing health challenges, including blackouts and memory loss. She and my son Chase are seeking answers and hope to return to South Africa soon.
  • My wife Amy has been away for over three weeks due to our daughter-in-law’s early labor scare but is expected to be home by the end of the week. Please pray for her safe travels back from the U.S.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • The construction and remodeling at Camp Rhino are progressing well. Most repairs from the major flood are completed. While we’re on hold with the perimeter wall, we’ve started construction on a new snack and gift shop, thanks to a generous donation specifically for that project. This addition will be a significant asset to the camp. Please pray we can begin construction on the new girls’ dorms soon, as we aim to have them finished before our busy camp season in December. 
  • This month, Amy and I will be traveling to Benin for a week to visit missionaries Nate and Emily Wilkerson as part of my role as the Africa Field Director for our mission. We’re looking forward to spending time with these new missionaries in West Africa.
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Coffey Family July 2024 Prayer Letter

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A few weeks ago, a family of six visited our church: a father and mother with their four children. This was the first time in our history of working in the townships that we had a complete family visit our church. It’s rare to find a married couple with children in our area; we only have one other married couple in our congregation outside of the leadership. 

After their second visit, I set up a weekly Bible study with the father. During our first session, he trusted Christ as his Savior. He shared that he grew up in a Baptist pastor’s home but hadn’t attended church for almost 20 years since his father’s passing. Please pray for the Mcanda family. The wife is skeptical of Christianity, and none of the children have made a profession of faith. We are praying they will all believe in Jesus soon.     

In September, we plan to ship our first container to South Africa. Over the past year, we have collected books in the United States to start a library for our Christian school and Bible college. The time to ship has come, but we still have plenty of room in our container. Please let me know if you are interested in sending any books or supplies for the ministry. Whitfield Baptist Church in Dalton, GA, has been collecting the books and will arrange the shipping.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • This month at Camp Rhino, we will host our first Men’s Camp. In May, we had our first Ladies’ Camp/Retreat, which was a great success, and we believe the Men’s Camp will be equally successful. Please pray for the men of our churches to be strengthened and for many to come to Christ during this event.
  • Please pray for Graham and Olivia Young as they return to Nigeria with their new baby girl, Lyla Jane. The Youngs will be completing their language studies and plan to start their first church in the spring of next year.  
  • Please continue praying for my daughter-in-law Ashley. She’s having health issues, including blackouts and memory loss. She and my son Chase are seeking answers and hope to return to South Africa soon.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • An additional $1,000 has been given towards the new 15-passenger van for Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home, bringing our total to $16,000. The van costs $31,000, so please pray we receive the remaining $15,000 soon.
  • One of our supporting churches sent $10,000 last month, enabling us to build the boys’ dorms. Additionally, $1,000 was donated this week for the girls’ dorms, which are estimated to cost $10,000. Both our teen and junior camps were filled to capacity, accommodating 25 more juniors than we had space for. This expansion will support our growing camp in the coming years. Our goal is to complete the girls’ dorms before December when our summer camps start.
  • Since the flood at Camp Rhino, a couple of months ago, most repairs have been completed or are underway. Generous donations and insurance have covered most of the damage. However, we need an additional $8,000 to finish the perimeter wall to protect against future floods.
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My daughter Emilee is finishing up the last week of her 6-month internship in Argentina. Please continue to pray for her as she takes her next step in ministry. Thank you to all who helped her make this internship a possibility. I am very grateful.

Emilee’s Prayer Letter July 2024Download

Coffey Family July 2024 Prayer Letter

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I want to thank you all for praying and reaching out after Camp Rhino flooded last month.  We’re so thankful for the encouraging words and gifts that we received.  What a tremendous blessing you all are.  

Camp Rhino was flooded less than two weeks before the start of our winter camps, but with the help of many friends and family, we were able to get the campus ready in time.  

Thankfully, our house bore the brunt of the flood, sparing much of the camp from severe damage. While there was significant cleanup and repairs to be done, everything quickly returned to normal. In fact, many have remarked that the camp looks better than ever. We are immensely grateful for all the help we received. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, contract workers, and our dedicated staff, Camp Rhino made a swift recovery.

The damage to our house is quite extensive and will require significant time to repair. Fortunately, we have insurance and expect to learn this week how much will be covered. We are using this opportunity to update our home, finding a silver lining in the situation. My wife is coping well, especially with the prospect of getting her new kitchen, which has certainly lifted her spirits:)

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • This winter camp season, we had an incredible group of young people serving as camp counselors and workers. Representing eight churches from Port Elizabeth, these individuals are a testament to the spiritual growth and maturity happening in our churches. Please pray for our ministry, as we strive to inspire more people to dedicate their lives to establishing Bible-preaching churches throughout South Africa.  
  • During our Teen & Junior camps, we saw 24 young people saved, 9 gain assurance of their salvation, 2 rededicate their lives to the Lord, and 1 surrender to full-time ministry. Thank you for praying.  
  • Noah Haught, who has been serving as an intern helping with Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home, returned to the States to begin raising support to return to South Africa full-time. Pray for him as he begins deputation, and pray that he can return quickly. He was a tremendous help during his time here. 

Quick Updates & Needs

  • An additional $4,000 has been contributed towards the purchase of a new 15-passenger van for Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home, bringing our total to $15,000. The total cost of the van is $31,000. Please pray that we receive the remaining $16,000 soon so we can make the purchase.
  • We are raising funds to expand our dormitory space at Camp Rhino, needing 2 additional dorms for girls and 2 for boys. This expansion will support our growing camp for the coming years. The new dorms are estimated to cost approximately $20,000. Both our teen and junior camps were filled to capacity, and we even exceeded our limit, with 25 more juniors than we had space for.
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Click the link below to read my daughter’s latest update about her 6-month internship in Argentina. She’s going into her last month.

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Coffey Family May 2024 Prayer Letter

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Our time in the  States was fruitful, but we are very glad to be back in South Africa.  This past weekend Camp Rhino hosted its first ladies’ retreat with all the churches and it went great.  The guys here at camp took over the cooking duties for once to make sure our ladies were well-fed. 

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Last week Amy and I were able to travel to Mozambique to see how the Clower family is adjusting to Africa.  We were encouraged to see the advances that Jacob & Christen had already made in their short few weeks on the field.  I believe the Lord will use this family in a great way.  Please pray for them and Mozambique.  We need more laborers for this country. 

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We have our Winter Teen and Junior camps coming up in June.  Pray the Lord does a special work in the hearts of the young people.  Also, pray he uses our counselors in a great way.  

One need I’d like to mention is a 15-passenger van. With our camp and youth home, transportation is becoming a bigger issue.  Would you pray we can raise the $25,000 for this needed vehicle?

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • This past month Camp Rhino held two events without my wife and I being in the country for the first time.  We are thankful for our team that did a tremendous job in our absence.  We were very encouraged to see Camp Rhino operate without us on campus. 
  • We had almost 200 people come out for our soccer and netball tournaments.  We’re looking to have many more evangelistic events like this in the future.  
  • Camp Rhino hosted a separate camp for our Christian school for the first time this past month. 
  • Please be in prayer for Graham & Olivia Young, missionaries to Nigeria.  They are close to having their first baby, Lyla Jane, very soon.  Once they have the baby they will be heading back to Nigeria.  Pray everything goes smoothly.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Lighthouse Baptist Church has been joining Fellowship Baptist Church during the midweek services in May for a family conference.  We’ve enjoyed being with Missionaries Josh and Meagan Sullivan and seeing the growth of their church.  It’s also encouraged more of our people to be involved in the midweek services.   
  • Pray for New Life Baptist Church and Pastor Sipho.  Our first church was affected during Covid and Pastor Sipho is pretty much restarting this church.  We’re praying that many will return and many will come to Christ. 
  • We are still raising funds to enlarge our dorm space at Camp Rhino.  We have decided we need 2 more girl dorms and 2 more boy dorms.  This should set us up for a few years to come.  The new dorms will cost about $20,000. 
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My daughter Emilee has passed the halfway mark on her 6-month internship in Argentina. Please continue to pray for her.

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Coffey Family February 2024 Prayer Letter

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Next week marks the beginning of a new academic year at our Bible College, and we are thrilled to share some exciting news. Bay Baptist Bible College is expanding its presence with the opening of a new branch, conveniently located near our city center. To make this vision a reality, we seek your support in raising $32,000 within the next 40 days for the purchase of the new property and buildings.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated and needed. The new branch is situated just a street away from our Christian School, offering a more central and accessible location for both our students and pastors. This strategic move allows us to enhance convenience compared to our current Camp Rhino campus on the outskirts of town. While our facilities at Camp Rhino will continue to serve various purposes, the primary campus is shifting to a more centralized location in town. Your partnership in this move is needed, and we appreciate your support in making our vision a reality.

Prayer Requests & Praise

  • 11 teens made professions of faith during Teen Camp last month. Thank you so much for praying and for donating.
  • Please pray for our Bible College students who start classes on February 12th.
  • Please also pray for missionaries Kevin & Corli Hall, who are the pioneer missionaries working here in South Africa. They are currently serving at Kuyga Baptist Church, and Kevin also heads up the Bible College ministry. Additionally, he is cursed to be my first cousin:)
  • Pray also for missionaries Noah & Tristan Wilkerson. It appears that they will be coming to South Africa for their first two years on the field for training and to allow their baby Alainey to gain more strength before heading to Mozambique. The healthcare in South Africa is much better suited to handle Alainey’s needs, and this arrangement will also allow the Wilkersons to stay connected to Mozambique, which is a neighboring country. They hope to arrive here in April.

Quick Updates & Needs

  • Our summer camp season was a great success at Camp Rhino. Thirty-three young people came to know Christ, and we experienced the best turnout from our church members volunteering as counselors during our camps. The year 2024 is anticipated to be our best at Camp Rhino yet, marking the first time we have an event booked every month since the inception of the camp.
  • Our daughter, Emilee, left this past week for the States and will be traveling to Argentina in just a few days to start her six-month internship. It was fantastic having her here for six weeks, and we look forward to her time in South America. Please continue to pray for her during this period.
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Coffey Family January 2024 Prayer Letter

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Happy New Year from our family to yours.  We can’t thank you enough for your prayers and financial support that enables us to be here in South Africa.  We are very privileged. 

The four adults pictured above with Amy and I were baptized in December. Seeing them take the next step of obedience made for a terrific day at Lighthouse Baptist Church.  We’re praying during this new year we will see many more trust Christ and make a public profession as these did. 

We were thankful to have Tim and Jessica Johnson from Southside Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN here on their survey trip.  Tim was also the main speaker during our Junior Camp and the Lord used him.  Pray for this dear family as they start deputation this coming March. 

As the Africa Field Director, I travel back to the States every year to teach at our Missions annual orientation.  I will be back March & April for this trip and if you would like me to come by your church please let me know. I’ll be reporting back to churches and working to raise extra support that will help with Camp Rhino and the Rhino Youth Home expenses.

Prayer Request & Praise

  • 22 Juniors made professions of faith during Junior camp last month.  Thank you so much for praying and for donating. 
  • We had our greatest turnout of counselors from our fellowship of churches.  The next few years look very bright with many more of our young people wanting to be a part of the camp ministry.    
  • Pray as we have Teen Camp the 2nd week of January.  We’re praying for souls to be saved and for at least 5 young people to surrender to ministry and start Bible College.
  • Pray for our missionaries in Nigeria, Graham and Olivia Young.   They started their furlough earlier than expected after finding out they were expecting their first baby.  We’re excited about this news and just ask you to pray as Olivia is a Type 1 Diabetic which makes her pregnancy more high-risk.   
  • Missionaries Jacob and Christen Clower plan to land in Mozambique this month but are being held up with their invitation letter.  Pray this comes through soon.  They were expected to have it long before now.

Quick Updates

  • Our daughter Emilee arrived a couple of weeks ago and it has been great having her here before she starts her internship in Argentina in February.  Thanks again to all those who gave to help her.  
  • January 9-12 are the dates for our Teen Camp and we are still seeking a sponsor for each of our campers, with the cost of the camp approximately $50 per person. We had 88 campers for Junior camp and are expecting around 100 during our teen camp. Many gave to cover about 50 campers so far.  We can still use your help. Donate through PayPal or through Vision Baptist Missions.
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Camp Rhino Christmas Camps

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Join us for an exciting adventure at our upcoming summer camps! The Junior Camp is set for December 12-14, while the Teen Camp will take place from January 9-12. Each camper requires a sponsor, and with a cost of approximately $50 per person, your support can make a meaningful impact.

We are reaching out to seek sponsors for our campers and would greatly appreciate your assistance. With over 200 participants expected across both camps, we estimate a total cost of around $5000. Your contribution will not only help cover the expenses but also contribute to creating memorable experiences for these young individuals.

If you’re interested in being a part of this enriching journey or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of these campers, and we look forward to the possibility of your support.

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Give through Vision Baptist Missions.

Coffey Family December 2023 Prayer Letter

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We’re entering Summer time here in South Africa.  Things start to slow down in the country with many people traveling back to their homelands and businesses shutting down for the holiday season.  During this time we usually see a reduction in church attendance but are praying we reach new people who have no place to go for the holidays. 

The country may be slowing down but the ministry isn’t.  December is the start of our summer camps at Camp Rhino.

New things are being added now for camp this year including 3 new large mud pits that will add in new competitions.  It will be a muddy time for sure. We’re also introducing a new (rented) giant water slide for our swimming pool.  I believe the kids will be amazed as they drive onto our property in a few days.  

Pray as we seek to impact these young people through the preaching and teaching of God’s word.  Pray for our counselors as they mentor their cabins.  They are the key to a successful week of camp.   

Prayer Request & Praise

  • Pray for our son Chase and his wife Ashley as they are working to get back to South Africa.  They are having visa issues and are anxiously wanting to return to continue their language school studies.  
  • Several from Rocklands High School trusted Christ during their 15 days at Camp Rhino.  Pray as we work to minister to these students and be praying for the Senior class that plans to be at Camp Rhino next year for 30 days preparing for their final exams.   
  • We have three adults planning to be baptized this Sunday at Lighthouse Baptist Church.  Pray as we want to see spiritual and physical growth in all the churches we work with. 
  • Pray for Nate and Emilee Wilkerson who are heading to Benin, West Africa in January. They are the first missionaries with our mission board to enter this needy country.  We are looking forward to new territory opening up to the Gospel. 
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Quick Update

  • December 12-14 marks our summer junior camp, and our summer teen camp is scheduled for January 9-12. We are seeking a sponsor for each of our campers, with the cost of the camp approximately $50 per person. We anticipate having over 200 campers during our two camps, which will amount to a total cost of around $5000. Your help is very much appreciated.  
  • My daughter Emilee, has raised all the funds for her upcoming 6-month internship in Argentina. This internship is the final step in her bachelor’s degree from the Our Generation Training Center. I want to thank everyone who has prayed and given to help make this trip possible. Please continue to pray as she heads to Argentina in February.
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Sponsor a child for camp through PayPal.

Sponsor a child for camp through Vision Baptist Missions.

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